Welcome to this week's newsletter

A global network of scientific research has been launched to better protect countries against animal diseases like avian influenza and foot and mouth disease.

The UK's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Enterprise is leading an international network, funded by the EU, linking thousands of scientists across the world.

It will allow them to exchange research, establish common goals and collaborate on developing future controls. It will also underpin early warning systems by identifying what emerging diseases are being picked up abroad.

The €1 million EU-funded network will include Canada, USA, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Denmark and the UK. It will be divided into three regions – the Americas, Asia and Australasia, and Europe – and surrounding countries are expected to feed in. It is hoped an Africa region will follow.

Pfizer Animal Health has acknowledged evidence of a ‘strong association’ between the use of its PregSure BVD vaccine and the later development of Bleeding Calf Syndrome - (Bovine Neonatal Pancytopaenia (BNP) ).

The company voluntarily suspended sales of PregSure BVD in Germany in April 2010 and then in other member states in June 2010.

In a statement Pfizer Ruminants business unit director Paul FitzPatrick said that although PregSure BVD is no longer available in Europe, it is continuing to investigate the ‘adverse events’. He said laboratory-based investigations are also ongoing to try to understand the pathogenesis of BNP.

Eating Quality Obtained Through Breeding
Marker assisted selection can be used in the future to allow beef breeders to select for meat quality to meet consumer demands.
Fed Cattle Performance In Open Lots & Bedded Confinements
Jeff Pastoor, graduate student at Iowa State University and Dan Loy, Professor of Animal Science at Iowa compare cattle performance of cattle fed in open lots compared to cattle fed in bedded confinement buildings.
The Reform Of CAP - Issues For Beef Producers
At the 2011 Teagasc Beef conference, Dr Tom Kelly and Dr Frank O'Mara, Teagasc Oak Park look at the issues that a CAP reform presents for beef producers, considering that cattle farmers' incomes are hugely dependent on direct payments.
Suckler Beef Production In Ireland: Production Systems
Research by Paul Crosson and Mark McGee, at Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre focuses on profitability for suckler beef production. This section looks at the importance of production systems.

Veterinarian Dr Robert Glock Honoured
US - Dr Robert Glock has been honoured for service to colleagues and the industry by receiving last month the Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC) Outstanding Service Award, sponsored by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.